SAINTS manager Ralph Hasenhuttl says discussions are "always" ongoing with the players the club is hoping to keep after Moussa Djenepo signed a new three-year contract at St Mary’s this week.

A busy summer transfer window saw ten new faces arrive at the club - with Mateusz Lis since departing on loan - while numerous first team regulars and fringe assets including Fraser Forster, Shane Long, Yan Valery, Jan Bednarek, and Jack Stephens all departed.

One player that somewhat surprisingly stayed was Djenepo. After making zero Premier League starts in 2022, the club were reportedly willing to listen to offers for the winger. But when pre-season came around and no move away materialised, Djenepo quickly worked his way back into Hasenhuttl’s plans.

Deputising for the injured Romain Perraud, Djenepo started Saints’ first four games of the Premier League season and with his previous deal set to expire this coming summer, the 24-year-old has been handed a new three-year contract.

According to his manager, he may not be the last with conversations ongoing for others the club is hoping to hold on to.

“Yes, never stop doing this,” Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo when asked about contract discussions with other players in his squad. 

“We must always be in touch with the players you want to have in your club and want to stay in your club. I think it’s important that we show the way we want to go and they show their commitment.”

Moi Elyounoussi, Theo Walcott, and Willy Caballero are the only other members of the Saints squad who are into the final 12 months of their current deals while Mohammed Salisu, Ibrahima Diallo, Che Adams, and Stuart Armstrong all have two years remaining.

It remains to be seen who specifically the club is looking to tie down, but Hasenhuttl feels Djenepo's case can be seen as a "role model" for others about the attitude required regardless of their role in the squad.

“We had a lot of players in the past not always playing but being very important to this club. I think this is another role model if you want. 

“This season I think Moussa showed he can also play in the left-back position as a very good player. Now we have Juan (Larios) so it will not happen that often that he has to play there again. 

“So we can use him up front where his natural position is left or right. He needs to score goals, he needs to show his qualities in one against ones. He has these qualities but these qualities can still be developed.”

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